The Secret Admirer Romance Collection

by Barratt, Amanda; Beatty, Lorraine; Bull, Molly Noble

  When Meredith opened her eyes, Gabe’s face was directly in front of hers. Their eyes connected. His, so handsomely hazel. And then with that lock of brown hair falling over his forehead…Meredith knew her heart stopped for certain. The awkwardness of the situation hampered her breathing, and she stared into his eyes, and he into hers. For a moment, she forgot all about the threatening headache from the collision with Gabe’s noggin.

  Several chuckles and giggles interrupted Meredith’s whimsical thoughts, and she and Gabe hastily pulled away from each other. Meredith placed a hand on the sore spot of her head.

  Silence ensued. All of their friends waiting to see what happened next in this awkward, yet romantic situation, perhaps? Meredith inwardly cringed. She’d never hear the end of it from Roxie, Enid, and Idella.

  “Sorry,” Gabe said.

  “Begging your pardon,” squeaked Meredith, their words colliding in chorus.

  “Here.” He handed her the handkerchief that had caused all the troubles in the first place. She attempted to reclaim the handkerchief, only to miss it and have it drift to the ground in front of her. Careful not to have a repeat of their heads colliding, Gabe cautiously picked up the handkerchief and again handed it to her.

  “Goodness, but I fear I have butterfingers today.” Meredith found it odd that her voice sounded like someone else’s entirely in her ears, all high-pitched and shrill. Since when was she so antsy?

  When the dapper Gabe Kleeman was sitting within a foot of her, that’s when.

  Gabe offered a slow, handsome smile, and his face and ears turned a bright red. He said nothing, returning his attention to his food.

  Meredith dared to look around at their friends. Roxie and Perry winked at each other; Enid and Hugh smirked; Idella appeared perplexed; and Richard was too busy eating his midday meal to notice. This event would certainly be fodder for the gossip mill.

  Finally, Roxie, bless her heart, brought up the subject of the weather.

  Chapter 7

  Over the past few years, the Waller and Kleeman families had spent a lot of time together. But that was when Gabe was in Missouri. With Gabe’s return, visiting each other’s families had become a trifle awkward.

  As they walked toward Gabe’s home the following Saturday evening, Meredith noticed that Mama and Mrs. Kleeman began chatting about the happenings around town and how Charles was assisting Widow Jones this evening. Behind them, Pa and Mr. Kleeman chatted about grain prices. In the back, Tillie and Lula giggled about schoolgirl notions. Soon Gabe fell into step with Meredith.

  The silence between Meredith and Gabe was awkward, but not as awkward as Lula and Tillie’s giggles and whispers. Meredith could only imagine what they must be saying, and she was sure it involved her and Gabe, especially since news of the potluck incident had reached its way to Tillie’s ears.

  “Sure has been nice weather,” Meredith commented, just to take her mind off of the discomfort she felt.

  Gabe avoided her gaze and continued down the road. “Uh, yes, it has been.”

  “I wouldn’t trade the summers in Ellis Creek for anything. Not that I’ve lived anywhere else, mind you, to know about the summer season in other places.” Yes, she was rambling. Meredith closed her mouth and worked her lip between her teeth. Why must she always sound like a blabbering ninny? It didn’t help that Gabe proved not to be the most proactive conversationalist.

  What must he think of her? Meredith tried not to stare at his strong and handsome profile. Why had she not noticed what a dapper man he was before this year? Clearly, she had been spending far too much time sewing dresses and far too little time noticing the man she’d known since they were children in school.

  “How were the summers in Missouri?” There she went again. Her mouth opened before she could tell it to remain closed.

  “Uh…reckon they were fine. Humid.”

  Gabe kept his focus forward. Why was the man so difficult to talk to? Did he think her a simpleton?

  “Are you glad to be back in the Montana Territory?”

  More giggles and snorts from the obnoxious factory greeted Meredith’s question to Gabe, and she noticed that if Lula and Tillie were any closer, they would be stepping on her heels. She whirled around and narrowed her eyes at her sister.

  “Yes.”

  “That’s good.”

  “That’s good,” Tillie mimicked Meredith in an exaggerated voice.

  It was then that Meredith noticed that the girls had been copying everything she and Gabe had said, with Tillie mimicking her and Lula mimicking Gabe. Meredith had every mind to let that little sister of hers know that if she didn’t stop posthaste, Tillie would be doing all of Meredith’s chores on top of her own until Tillie was at least fifty-six.

  She again turned and glared at the girls.

  Gabe caught her glare, and a deep blush covered Meredith’s face. Oh, dear. Now he must think of her as harsh. Meredith faced forward once again. It was just far too difficult to carry on a conversation with Gabe, the man of few words, especially with two annoying pestilences mocking every bit of the nearly one-sided conversation.

  They reached Gabe’s ranch, and fortunately, Gabe joined his father in showing Meredith’s pa the barn, the corrals, and finally, the humble home.

  “Impressive for a man so young, wouldn’t you agree, dear?” Mama asked.

  Meredith didn’t need to see Gabe’s ranch to be impressed. She was already captivated by his love for the Lord, his kind and thoughtful ways, and, of course, his dapper appearance.

  Yesterday, Roxie had asked Meredith if she fancied Gabe. Meredith admitted it, to which Roxie had exclaimed, “Wouldn’t it just be wonderful if the two of you began to court?”

  “He doesn’t know I exist,” Meredith had answered.

  “Oh, he knows you exist, all right.”

  “How can you be so sure?”

  “Trust me. He sees you, Meredith.”

  Meredith hadn’t told Roxie about the secret letters she’d been receiving, although she had been tempted to share the news. It was one of those rare things she decided to keep even from her best friend.

  If only the man who was delivering the letters could be someone like Gabe instead of the likely prospects of Leopold Arkwright, Marvin Pratt, or Mr. Griggs.

  Thinking back on her conversation with Roxie, Meredith wished she could see the big picture the Lord saw, instead of the small tintype she managed. Then she would know for sure if Gabe fancied her, or at the very least, knew she existed.

  Gabe tossed a pile of hay to the horses in the corral. If he showed wisdom in how he spent his earnings, he should be able to add a few more cattle to his herd by next year. If he continued to grow his herd, he should be able to provide a nice home for the woman he would someday marry.

  Marriage?

  Meredith Waller had messed with Gabe’s mind. He had never contemplated marriage until he’d returned from Missouri and seen Meredith sitting in church.

  The woman he’d never truly forgotten.

  What must she think of him? After the potluck and him thudding his head into hers while she reached for the handkerchief, she must think of him as a buffoon. A woman as lovely as her could have a choice of any man to court. Why would she choose someone like him? Someone who was clumsy and wordless?

  Although, Gabe had to admit, his speaking when around her had improved, thanks to the countless prayers he’d sent heavenward. While they were walking to his home with the families last week, he had actually said more than one word at a time. Twice. He had actually articulated words, rather than grunts, in her presence. God was steadily helping him improve. Hopefully, those small improvements would be enough to win her heart.

  Gabe perused the area around his ranch. With the exception of the animals, he was alone. Perhaps this would be as good a time as any to practice his speaking skills. He beckoned his horse, Dottie. She ambled toward him, and he fed her an apple. “Now, Dottie, I need your help. You see, there’s this girl named Meredith.
I’ve fancied her for many years.” Gabe paused and scanned from right to left, just to be sure no one had arrived at his ranch.

  Seeing no one, he continued. “Dottie, I’m going to pretend you are Meredith so I can work on my speaking skills. For some reason, I’m tongue-tied beyond belief when I’m in her presence. Are you ready?”

  As if she understood, Dottie nodded her head and neighed.

  “Hello, Meredith. You look beautiful today. You have the prettiest blue eyes I’ve ever seen.” Gabe grinned and tried his best to imagine Meredith stood before him, rather than his horse. “Reckon it is still two months away, but I would be much obliged if you would attend the—” He paused. He really had to practice this part so he wouldn’t make the same mistake he’d made years ago when he’d called the barn dance a yarn bance.

  “I was wondering if you’d accompany me to the harvest barn dance at the Randels’.”

  Dottie seemed distracted, as she nodded her head to and fro.

  “Is that a yes?”

  Giggles and snorts interrupted Gabe’s conversation. He turned to see Lula snickering behind him. He felt his face flush as he gritted his teeth. When had she arrived, and how much had she heard? “Lula, what are you doing here?”

  “Watching you carry on a conversation with a horse.” She started giggling again.

  “Don’t you talk to your pets at home? I reckon you’ve spoken to your puppy many times.”

  “True, but I never pretended he was Meredith!”

  “Lula, you will not tell anyone about what you just saw.”

  “I won’t?” With that, Lula took off down the road, her long braids flying behind her.

  Gabe ran after her. He recalled a time, not too far in the past, when he couldn’t run to save his life. His weak legs could barely walk on some days. But not today. God had healed him, and he would catch that impudent sister of his if it was the last thing he did.

  With his long stride, it didn’t take long to catch up to her. “Lula, please stop.”

  Lula whirled around to face him, her face flushed from laughing so hard at his expense. “Will you, please, not tell anyone about what you saw and heard here today?”

  She seemed to ponder his question. “So you admit that you were pretending that Dottie was Meredith and that you were telling her how beautiful she is with her pretty blue eyes?”

  Gabe sighed. “All right. I admit I was practicing my speech for Meredith on Dottie.”

  “That’s what I thought. So you do like Meredith then?”

  “Maybe.”

  “For a bag of jawbreakers, I might be persuaded not to utter a word about this to anyone.” Lula paused then whispered, “Except Tillie.”

  “For a bag of jawbreakers, you’ll not utter a word to anyone, not even Tillie.”

  Lula’s shoulders slumped. “But she’s my best friend.”

  “Not even Tillie, Lula.”

  “All right. I’ll do my best.”

  “Were you stopping by for a visit?”

  “Ma wanted me to invite you to supper.” Lula’s eyes darted to and fro, as if she were hiding something. Of all the sisters God could have given him, the good Lord had to give Gabe a mischievous one.

  “Lula, you’re acting mighty peculiar.”

  Lula shifted her shoes in the soft dirt. “I just might have an idea, that’s all.”

  “An idea?”

  “An idea to help you be able to speak to Meredith without being such a shy fellow.”

  So Lula had noticed. Just grand. “What’s your idea?”

  “Not so fast. First, you must agree to two things.”

  “Two things?”

  “Yes. First, you must agree that I may call an important meeting with Tillie to discuss this matter before I share with you my magnificent idea.”

  Gabe exhaled. This was not boding well for him. “And second?”

  “Second thing is that you, under no circumstances, can be angry with me for my idea or any ideas in the past.”

  “This sounds suspicious, Lula. Reckon I can’t agree to your terms.”

  Lula folded her arms across her chest. “Then I’m afraid I can’t tell you my idea, and you will really want to hear it.”

  “All right, all right,” Gabe said, after offering prayers for patience. “I reluctantly agree to your terms.”

  “Then give me an hour, and I’ll be back to present my idea to you before supper.” With that, Lula bounded off, braids flying behind her, as she headed toward their parents’ home.

  True to her word, Lula returned about an hour later. Gabe had agonized about her idea. It would either be an impressive one, or it would be the worst idea he’d ever heard. He banked on the latter.

  “I spoke with Tillie. She regrets she is unable to attend this meeting due to the fact that she may have exaggerated about having her chores completed. Sometimes children make bad decisions of that sort.”

  Gabe narrowed his eyes at Lula. Hadn’t she pulled that same antic with their parents a time or two?

  “So Tillie and I did something. Now remember, Gabe, you promised not be angry about anything I am about to tell you.”

  “Go on, Lula.”

  “You see, some time ago, Tillie and I decided we wanted to become sisters forever. The only way to do that was for us to convince you and Meredith to get married.”

  “What?”

  “Wait. It gets much better. We had this grandiose plan to write letters to Meredith from you.”

  “Write letters to Meredith from me?”

  “Is there an echo on this ranch?”

  Gabe shook his head. “Lula, please, tell me you did not write letters to Meredith from me.” If Meredith didn’t already think him a buffoon, she certainly would after some crazy letters supposedly from him.

  “We did. But here’s the good news. We’ve only written…” Lula counted on her fingers. “We’ve only written her five of them.”

  “Five?”

  “Yes. And more good news. We signed them from a ‘secret admirer.’ According to a good source, Meredith does not suspect it is you writing the letters.”

  A good source? That could only mean Tillie.

  Whom did she suspect? It could be good…or bad that Meredith did not suspect him. Did she wish it was a certain fellow? Someone like Leopold Arkwright? Gabe had seen many an unmarried woman swooning over him a time or two. “I can’t believe you and Tillie did that.”

  “Some call us geniuses. I prefer the term creative.”

  More like impish. “How can this help me?”

  “Well, she has written back. Her letters are rather dull and full of questions, but if you started really writing the letters”—Lula paused for effect—“if you really were the one writing the letters, you could win her heart without uttering a word.”

  Gabe mulled over Lula’s words. This might not be so bad after all. Surely on paper, he could say things he would never have the nerve to say in person. “Reckon I could give it a try. How are you delivering the letters?”

  “In the sliver in the knot of the old oak tree near the Jones’ place.”

  “Do you have the letters she’s written?”

  “For a bag of jawbreakers for Tillie, she says I can give them to you.”

  Gabe would be poor for certain if he continued to spend his hard-earned money on jawbreakers. “This is bribery, Lula.”

  Lula shrugged. “I think Meredith would delight in receiving letters from you. You could ask her questions and find out more about her. Then when you fall in love you’ll know what her favorite color is and all those good things to know about the woman you court.”

  The crazy idea could work. Perhaps through the letters, Gabe could gather the courage to make his intentions toward a particular young lady known.

  If his letters to Meredith were deemed as favorable.

  And if he could write better than he could speak.

  Chapter 8

  The letters arrived with more regularity, but that wasn’t
the only thing Meredith noticed had changed. The handwriting was different. Her curiosity piqued. Had this suddenly become a prank? Were there two authors?

  She would have to ponder this latest development.

  Meredith shut the door to the room she shared with Tillie. She certainly did not want her younger sister to know about the letters. Tillie would undoubtedly share that tidbit of juicy gossip with Lula, who would manage to find a way to share it with others until the entire town of Ellis Creek was privy to the letters. Or they would find a way to publish it in the Ellis Creek Journal, which was always on the lookout for intriguing stories. Meredith cringed at that thought.

  She plopped on the bed and noticed an open bag of jawbreakers on the chest of drawers she and Tillie shared. It certainly seemed as though Tillie ate far more jawbreakers than usual as of late.

  Brushing the strange observation aside, Meredith opened her stash of letters and dumped them on the quilt to peruse. There had been five letters in the same handwriting and now two more recent letters in different handwriting, so seven letters total. She didn’t recognize the penmanship of either batch of letters, but the second batch appeared more deliberate, interesting, and thorough.

  She reached for a piece of stationery and penned a letter. Since her admirer hadn’t been clear on his residence in one of his past letters, she decided to again address the issue. Knowing if he resided here would certainly assist her in determining his identity:

  Dear Secret Admirer,

  Are you a man of religion? For what are you most grateful? Do you reside in Ellis Creek?

  Yours Truly,

  Meredith Waller

  The response arrived in two days.

  Dear Miss Waller,

  Yes, I reside in Ellis Creek. Yes, I am a man of religion and a devoted follower of Christ. I am most grateful for the many blessings He has given me, including family and good health. For what are you most grateful?

  Yours Truly,

  Your Secret Admirer

  Meredith read and reread the most recent letter. While thankful that he loved the Lord and had gratitude, she was determined more than ever to solve the mystery.